Early reports suggest that Apple has sold most of its first run of international iPad shipments, which has lead one analyst to predict that the iPad will outsell the Mac internationally this quarter.

Mike Abramsky with RBC Capital Markets said Friday that he believes between 600,000 and 700,000 iPads will be sold overseas in June, though the number could go even higher. If that forecast is accurate, it would well exceed the 500,000 Macs expected to be sold in June.

"Industry contact feedback and previously published surveys point to strong international demand, supported by media reports of long lineups at Apple stores, and strong demand for iPads," Abramsky wrote. "iPads appear to be stocked out already at some stores and resellers, particularly in countries like Japan, Australia, and U.K. Online availability has been further delayed, to a vague 'June,' from June 7 (prior to which was May 28)."

He noted that the nine countries where the iPad launched on Friday are Apple's strongest international markets, accounting for about 50 percent of the Cupertino, Calif., company's overseas revenue. And yet, still 78 of the 88 countries where the iPhone is available have yet to receive the iPad.

If Abramsky's predictions prove true, it would be a continuation of the trend started in the U.S., where the iPad has had blockbusters sales since it was first introduced in early April. Last week, Abramsky said he believes Apple is selling more than 200,000 iPads per week in the U.S., nearly doubling the estimate 110,000 Macs sold stateside every 7 days.

In all, the analyst sees Apple selling 8.1 million iPads in calendar year 2010, as supply issues are eventually addressed and Apple begins to meet demand.

"Over the coming months, we believe Apple will further ramp production to overcome initial supply shortages," he said.

Early reports suggest that Apple has sold most of its first run of international iPad shipments, which has lead one analyst to predict that the iPad will outsell the Mac internationally this quarter.

Mike Abramsky with RBC Capital Markets said Friday that he believes between 600,000 and 700,000 iPads will be sold overseas in June, though the number could go even higher. If that forecast is accurate, it would well exceed the 500,000 Macs expected to be sold in June.

"Industry contact feedback and previously published surveys point to strong international demand, supported by media reports of long lineups at Apple stores, and strong demand for iPads," Abramsky wrote. "iPads appear to be stocked out already at some stores and resellers, particularly in countries like Japan, Australia, and U.K. Online availability has been further delayed, to a vague 'June,' from June 7 (prior to which was May 28)."

He noted that the nine countries where the iPad launched on Friday are Apple's strongest international markets, accounting for about 50 percent of the Cupertino, Calif., company's overseas revenue. And yet, still 78 of the 88 countries where the iPhone is available have yet to receive the iPad.

If Abramsky's predictions prove true, it would be a continuation of the trend started in the U.S., where the iPad has had blockbusters sales since it was first introduced in early April. Last week, Abramsky said he believes Apple is selling more than 200,000 iPads per week in the U.S., nearly doubling the estimate 110,000 Macs sold stateside every 7 days.

In all, the analyst sees Apple selling 8.1 million iPads in calendar year 2010, as supply issues are eventually addressed and Apple begins to meet demand.

"Over the coming months, we believe Apple will further ramp production to overcome initial supply shortages," he said.

I think everyone would be very surprised (and predicting doom and gloom) if it wasn't hot. Especially with all the reports from Japan about the excitement there (pretty good indicator of high interest in the device).

This is obviously a fake announcement by Apple which doesn't want to admit that the iPad is a miserable failure just like all those people here were saying it would be a couple of months ago!

And Apple clearly paid all those people to stand on lines around the world. Come on, journalists, let's do some investigative reporting and expose this for what it is: the greatest hoax ever.

The iPad is just a large iPod touch. It does less than a netbook, and worse, it costs more. It can't even do the whole Internet. It doesn't have a camera. You can't access it's file system. It can't even print. You have to pay extra to get a keyboard so you can type. You need a computer to connect it to. And it's too big to put in your pocket and too heavy to hold for a long time.

While I like my iPad and have been using one since the day it was released no matter what the numbers are, it is still just a big iPod Touch that doesn't play Flash.

Also while it comes in handy at times I use my MBP 98% of the time. The iPad just doesn't really cut it for anything except web surfing and ereading.

What are your uses for the MBP? The logical conclusion to draw from your statements is that these uses make up 98% of your requirements. In other words, websurfing (non-flash sites) and ereading make up 2% of your overall interaction with a device with screens bigger than a phone.

While I like my iPad and have been using one since the day it was released no matter what the numbers are, it is still just a big iPod Touch that doesn't play Flash.

Also while it comes in handy at times I use my MBP 98% of the time. The iPad just doesn't really cut it for anything except web surfing and ereading.

That's pretty much how I'd expect it be used. Especially from a "techie" person who uses a notebook as their main machine.

For the couch while watching TV, at the breakfast table, traveling, or simply lounging around it's quite ideal in design.

I have two friends that are moving from a MBP to an iMac as their next machine because the iPad fills their mobile gap so well. They get more machine than a notebook for less money so they see it as a win-win. Other, older people, I know that have and love the iPad already have desktops and don't really use them much so it already fills that void.

The iPad window between my 13" MBP and iPhone is too narrow for my needs right now, and I travel way too much to get a desktop anytime soon, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Apple's desktop sales getting a nice boost as more people find the "Desktop PC + Tablet PC" option as a more optimal fit over just a "Notebook PC".

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

While I like my iPad and have been using one since the day it was released no matter what the numbers are, it is still just a big iPod Touch that doesn't play Flash.

Also while it comes in handy at times I use my MBP 98% of the time. The iPad just doesn't really cut it for anything except web surfing and ereading.

Doesn't work the same for everyone bud... Besides the normal thing it can do (web, read, games, email, movies, music, etc). Here's what I've been using my iPad for:

- I've done client presentation (with the iPad itself or connected thru a projector) on it. (Sure you can do it on a laptop but I found it light and convenient for me). MY iPAD HAS MADE ME LOOK EVEN BETTER, AND MORE PROFESSIONAL ON CLIENT PRESENTATIONS!
- Digital sketches and illustration (Sure I can do the same at home or at work) ON THE GO while I'm commuting on the train (can't do that with a laptop).
- Illustrations I've done on the iPad are not just for personal collection but actual "paid" work
- Do quick photo edits (for work) on the go
- Manage my freelance business, finances, etc
- Get paid for my work via credit card
- Do quick simple edits to websites I maintain (yeah, there's an App for that)
- Most importantly for me, quality time with my kids playing games, reading those great children's book before bedtime!
- I have more to add to the list but you should get my point by now.

And I'm doing all that with a small lightweight bad boy not a big a$s heavy laptop. It's been two weeks since I last used my MBP. And I haven't really touched it since I got the iPad. Sure you can call it a big iPod Touch, but that's what makes it better. So, no the iPad for me is not a toy. As far as Flash, all of the websites I check on a daily basis are HTML5 enabled so I could care less about it personally.

You see the iPad is only limited to your imagination and your creativity. JUST BECAUSE IT DOESN'T CUT IT FOR YOU DOESN'T MEAN IT WON'T FOR OTHERS. If you prefer your MBP, good for you bud. Like I always say, get and use what works for you personally. I bought my iPad and researched and thought out on what I'm going to use it for and made my decision. AND PLEASE STOP TELLING OTHERS WHAT DOES AND DOES NOT WORK FOR THEM.

I actually made the mistake of buying an external keyboard. Now I can't be bothered to use it. The virtual keyboard works just fine with me. Of course, I'm a touch typist, not a two-finger pokist.

Seriously, I am pleased as punch with my iPad (low end wifi no less!). BTW, I shelled out the 5 bucks for the Wired emag, and I definitely think it was worth the money. True, you could get the same info cheaper in paper, but it lacks the interactivity. That's what makes it worth the bucks.

My problem with the iPad is that I don't have TIME to do all the neat stuff I want to do with it! It's like the ultimate mobile tech smorgasbord!

I was saddled with serious buyer's remorse the few days after the WiFi-3G purchase, but over time I learned in how many ways it is NOT a big iPod Touch, and got over the remorse.

The ease of reading books and the fact that I don't have to keep buying bookshelves to store them in. (OK, at 43 my reading vision is going quickly and so it helps to play with the font size). Reading a book with an iPhone isn't the same. Using both iBook and Kindle.

I'm a weather geek, so Wundermaps is a godsend. Google maps too.

Love driving and racing, so the racing games are too sweet! (just ask my brother who commandeers it every time he's over.) Wolfensteing 3D is also very cool.

The calendar is righteous, especially when synced with MobileMe. iPhone and iMac are all up to date and at a moment's glance I can see where I need to be or what's coming up. Especially dig the formatting.

Pages is cool for journaling while at Starbuck's.

Netflix/iTunes are good for catching a movie while traveling or just hanging out, and they look good too.

Lastly, on-line access is a snap. I have a MBP for mobile working, and getting online with Verizon is a hassle. The iPad is instant on, wi-fi or 3G.

I have different tools for different uses. They're all good.

Haters will call me a fanboi. I call myself a satisfied customer.

Edit:
I see a bunch of us responded to extremeskater. Special thanks to that troll for allowing us the opportunity to extoll the virtures of the iPad. Sounds like we're all satisfied customers.

Wurm5150: Your post is almost identical to what I want to say. I am particularly interested in the ability to do presentations via projector from something seriously smaller than a laptop.

I'm a contract programmer and many of the places I work have tightly controlled and monitored networks. Often, I can't bring my own laptop into the facility and I never connect my laptop to such a network. I anticipate using the 3G iPad during lunch and other break times in those places where I can bring it in bypassing these networks.

There are many times when I want to perform server related management and website maintenance when away from home. Carrying a Dell laptop around, just in case, proved to be unmanageable a long time ago.

The iPad works for me and I feel fine spending the money to get an one for these purposes.

this is great news for apple. the ipad is great, for education, business, or for grandparents. other than that, why spend the extra cash? never buy first generation of any product! i worked at apple, genius bar is great to find out exactly what's wrong with each generation of product. customers, stay away from 1st generation products! anyway, let's see what WWDC brings...

While I like my iPad and have been using one since the day it was released no matter what the numbers are, it is still just a big iPod Touch that doesn't play Flash.

Also while it comes in handy at times I use my MBP 98% of the time. The iPad just doesn't really cut it for anything except web surfing and ereading.

hogwash. blather. humbug.

I still need my MacBook Pro for more processor intensive apps (Ableton Live, Logic, Final Cut, Photoshop, et al), but it hasn't left the house since I got the iPad. Meaning, to its usual destinations when I head out to a cafe or similar...

I get plenty of work done using the iPad. Writing, email, IM... It's actually better for quick note taking, sketching ideas, reading, and even browsing (but no, I'm not a Flash-aholic ... I never missed it on my iPhone either).

It has been immensely useful, and saves me having to lug a 5 pound clamshell laptop around just to do the basics. I can do some of those on the iPhone too, but the screen size has always been an issue for me.

So, I totally disagree with the notion that the iPad isn't "useful" beyond email and "partial browsing"...

I originally meant to comment on the article, and got pulled into extremeskater's trollisms...

Yes, I've been saying that if Apple can meet demand, they'll sell well over 5 million of these in 2010...

That was before it was released, and at the time all the so-called analysts were saying *maybe* 1 ~ 1.5 million in 2010, and 3 ~ 5 million in 2011...

I thought they were seriously under-estimating.

Apple sold a million right out of the gate. It all comes down to how well they can ramp up supply heading into the 4th quarter... In the meantime I doubled my estimate. If they can meet the demand, they'll sell at least 10 million this year.

If the demand in the international market is any early indicator, they could even exceed that. They've got 7 months left, and they've already sold what... close to 3 million of them?

I still need my MacBook Pro for more processor intensive apps (Ableton Live, Logic, Final Cut, Photoshop, et al), but it hasn't left the house since I got the iPad. Meaning, to its usual destinations when I head out to a cafe or similar...

I get plenty of work done using the iPad. Writing, email, IM... It's actually better for quick note taking, sketching ideas, reading, and even browsing (but no, I'm not a Flash-aholic ... I never missed it on my iPhone either).

It has been immensely useful, and saves me having to lug a 5 pound clamshell laptop around just to do the basics. I can do some of those on the iPhone too, but the screen size has always been an issue for me.

So, I totally disagree with the notion that the iPad isn't "useful" beyond email and "partial browsing"...

Reading at the comments of this thread there are some very different usages so It will take some time for everybody to use a tablet for everything because of the different use-cases. For instance, I'll probably quit reading the news on MBP anytime soon, for others this might be gaming or Facebook. The questions are how long does it take, and what will make a user switch. And until a user reaches that point, he/she will barely see the value of tablet computing...and especialy the iPad.